The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

“But why do our friends in Moscow behave as if they are deaf and blind?” askedBaryalai.“This is a mystery to me as well. Perhaps Puzanov and his colleagues are sendingdistorted information to Moscow? This is most probably the case.”“Then allow me to leave for Moscow immediately in order to meet with their leadersand open their eyes to what is happening in Afghanistan,” suggested Baryalai.Karmal agreed. His only condition was that under no circumstances should theAfghan embassy in the Soviet Union catch wind of his visit.Having arrived in Moscow, Baryalai first called the residence of Erik Nekrasov, whohad been his close contact during his tenure as a KGB resident in Kabul. Nekrasovcautiously declined to meet with his Afghan friend, but they spoke at length and in greatdetail on the phone. Baryalai held nothing back in describing the troublesome situation ofthe Parchamis.“If you don’t intervene, there will be big trouble,” he told his former contact.“Comrade Karmal and the rest of us live under a constant threat of death.”He also lamented the lack of financial support and mentioned that he had a letterfrom Karmal that was addressed to the leadership of the CPSU. By the end of theconversation, the Afghan was in tears. “In the name of humanism, please save us,” hepleaded.“You will be contacted,” promised Nekrasov laconically.Nekrasov immediately reported the conversation to his leadership. The informationquickly went up the ladder. Secretary of the Central Committee Ponomaryov was informedon that very day. He immediately called his deputy, Ulyanovsky.249